UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA     AGRICULTURAL   EXPERIMENT  STATION 
COLLEGE   OF  AGRICULTURE  "MJ'  ,DE  WHEELER'  •—•■««' 

THOMAS    FORSYTH    HUNT,    Dean  AND.  DIRECTOR 

BERKELEY  h.  e.  van  norman,  vice-director  and  dean 

University  Farm  School 

CIRCULAR  No.  189 
January,  1918 

WINTER   FORAGE  CROPS 

By  P.  B.  KENNEDY 


The  crops  that  may  be  grown  in  this  state  during  the  winter  season 
for  forage  purposes  are : 

Canada  field  peas  Bur-clover 

Common  vetch  Sweet  clover 

Sand  or  hairy  vetch  Italian  rye  grass 

Horse  beans  English  rye  grass 

Rape  Orchard  grass 

Kale  Crested  dog  's-tail  grass 

Gianj:  marrow  cabbage  Tall  meadow  oat  grass 

White  mustard  Rye 

Root  crops  Barley 

FIELD    PEAS 

Field  peas  are  adapted  to  moderate  temperatures  and  will  with- 
stand frost,  but  not  severe  freezing  weather.  They  will  also  grow 
at  high  altitudes.  Where  the  winters  are  cold  they  must  be  sown 
in  spring  under  irrigation  or  on  land  that  has  previously  been  pre- 
pared so  as  to  conserve  the  moisture.  On  the  coast  and  in  the  interior 
valleys,  fall  sowing  on  well-drained  land  is  recommended.  The  crop 
may  be  grown  for  hay,  soiling,  silage,  pasture  or  seed.  It  is  palatable 
to  all  classes  of  stock  in  any  of  its  forms. 

The  soil  should  contain  an  abundance  of  lime  and  where  this  is 
not  present  naturally,  1000  to  2000  pounds  of  burned  lime  or  double 
this  quantity  of  ground  limestone  per  acre  should  be  applied. 

There  are  about  100  varieties  of  field  peas,  differing  in  earliness, 
amount  of  herbage  and  the  size  and  color  of  the  flowers  and  pods. 
The  seeds  of  some  varieties  are  round  and  smooth  while  others  are 
wrinkled  and  angular.  In  color  they  vary  from  light  yellow  to 
green,  brown,  black  or  speckled.  Some  of  the  best  varieties  are  Colo- 
rado White,  Black-eye  Marrowfat,  Arthur,  Golden  Vine,  Prussian 
Blue.  The  weight  of  a  bushel  of  peas  varies  from  fifty-two  to  sixty- 
eight  pounds,  depending  upon  the  variety  and  the  quality  of  the  seed. 
The  seed  will  germinate  well,  even  when  several  years  old.      In  some 


regions  the  pea-weevil  is  a  serious  pest.  The  larva  eats  out  a  hole 
in  the  seed,  reducing  its  food  value  and  interfering  with  germination. 
To  destroy  the  weevil,  place  the  seeds  in  an  air-tight  receptacle 
(garbage  can  will  do  for  small  amounts)  and  treat  with  carbon 
bisulphide.  Allow  about  three  pounds  of  the  bisulphide  for  1000 
cubic  feet  of  space.  Place  the  liquid  in  pans  on  the  top  of  the  seed 
and  it  will  volatilize,  the  gas  penetrating  downward  as  it  is  heavier 
than  air.  Leave  for  about  twenty-four  hours  and  spread  the  seed 
out  or  admit  plenty  of  fresh  air.     Be  careful  with  fire. 

Field  peas  may  be  broadcasted  or  drilled  alone,  or  sown  with  a 
cereal  crop,  preferably  oats  or  rye.  Drilling  insures  more  even  and 
certain  germination.  On  heavy  soils  sow  to  a  depth  of  from  two 
inches  to  as  much  as  four  inches  on  the  lighter  soils.  A  disk  drill 
having  a  revolving  cup  type  of  feed  is  to  be  preferred  as  less  of  the 
seed  is  crushed.  Stop  up  the  holes  so  as  to  plant  in  double  rows, 
sixteen  inches  apart.  Where  cultivation  is  necessary  for  the  con- 
servation of  moisture  the  rows  should  be  placed  at  a  greater  distance. 
Fair  success  can  be  obtained  by  broadcasting  on  fallowed  land  or  on 
land  that  has  been  previously  in  a  hoed  crop  and  disking*  or  plowing- 
under  the  seed  lightly.  The  rate  of  seeding  varies  according  to  the 
method  and  locality  where  the  crop  is  to  be  grown  and  whether  it 
is  to  be  sown  alone  or  with  a  cereal.  If  alone,  one  and  a  half  bushels 
is  required  for  the  small-seeded  varieties  to  three  bushels  for  the 
large-seeded  ones.  In  humid  regious  one  bushel  of  peas  and  two 
bushels  of  oats  is  the  most  satisfactory  for  the  production  of  hay,  while 
in  dry  regions  two  bushels  of  peas  and  one  of  oats  have  proved  the 
most  successful.  For  seed  purposes  the  amount  should  be  consider- 
ably less,  namely,  one  bushel  of  peas  to  twenty  pounds  of  oats  which 
are  mixed  before  seetiing. 

The  best  time  to  cut  for  hay  is  when  the  plants  have  the  first  pods 
well  grown  but  not  matured  and  the  vines  still  blossoming.  This 
will  result  in  the  largest  amount  of  protein  and  the  highest  yield. 
When  grown  for  hay  it  is  nearly  always  advantageous  to  sow  the 
peas  with  oats  or  rye.  This  has  a  tendency  to  maintain  the  vines 
erect  and  will  make  mowing  and  curing  easier.  A  distinct  advantage 
is  to  have  an  attachment  to  the  mower  known  as  a  pea  harvester 
which  consists  of  guards  which  lift  up  the  peas  and  permits  the  cutter 
bar  free  passage.  It  costs  from  $12  to  $15.  Ten  tons  or  more  of 
green  fodder  or  about  three  tons  of  hay  per  acre  may  be  expected  on 
good  land.  Sheep,  particularly  lambs,  will  increase  in  weight  rapidly 
if  allowed  to  pasture  the  crop  when  mature.  A  good  crop  of  peas 
will  fatten  from  ten  to  fifteen  lambs  per  acre,  the  lambs  gaining  about 


eight  pounds  per  month.  From  seventy  to  ninety  days  will  place 
them  in  excellent  market  condition.  On  small  farms  movable  fences 
are  a  distinct  advantage  and  reduce  waste  in  feeding.  The  crop 
may  also  be' '  hogged  off  "  in  a  similar  manner  and  an  excellent  quality 
of  bacon  produced.  Wherever  corn  is  desirable  in  the  animal 
economy,  peas  will  be  found  an  excellent  substitute.  Silage  may 
also  be  made  from  the  green  vines  by  stacking  them  or  putting  them 
into  the  silo.  It  may  be  fed  all  classes  of  stock.  The  mature  crop 
should  be  harvested  before  the  seed  is  hard  in  the  pod  to  lessen  the 
•loss  from  shattering.  The  seed  may  be  flailed  or  thrashed  with  an 
ordinary  grain  thrasher,  or  by  a  pea  huller,  of  which  there  are  several 
on  the  market.  Trampling  the  seed  out  with  horses  or  passing  a 
concrete  roller  back  and  forward  over  the  vines  has  also  proved 
satisfactory.  One  ton  of  seed  per  acre  would  be  considered  a  good 
yield.  The  straw  has  considerable  food  value  and  will  be  readily 
eaten  by  stock,  particularly  sheep.  It  should  never  be  burned,  as  it 
will  add  considerable  humus  to  the  soil  if  plowed  under.  A  ton  to 
a  ton  and  a  half  of  straw  per  acre  may  be  expected. 

COMMON    VETCH 

Common  vetch  is  adapted  to  the  same  general  conditions  of  soil 
and  climate  as  the  field  pea.  In  different  parts  of  the  country  it  is 
known  by  the  following  names :  Smooth  vetch,  English  vetch,  Oregon 
winter  vetch,  spring  vetch  and  tares.  It  will  grow  on  a  variety  of 
soils  but  seems  to  be  best  adapted  to  well-drained  rich  sandy  or 
gravelly  loams.  Unlike  most  other  legumes  its  lime  requirement  is 
low.  The  seed  bed  should  be  well  prepared  but  left  firm.  Go  over 
the  land  with  a  roller  or  subsurface  packer  so  as  to  firm  the  soil  and 
then  harrow  again  very  lightly.  Gypsum  at  the  rate  of  100  pounds 
per  acre  has  been  found  to  increase  the  yields  of  hay  on  some  soils. 
Fall  planting  is  the  general  rule  on  the  coast  and  valley  sections 
where  the  winter  temperature  keeps  above  15°  F.  Where  the  sum- 
mers are  hot  and  dry  it  is  useless  to  sow  in  the  spring. 

Lack  of  inoculation  may  cause  the  crop  to  be  a  failure.  In  remote 
districts  or  new  regions  where  vetch  has  not  been  well  established  it 
would  be  advisable  to  provide  inoculation.  Secure  about  five  hun- 
dred pounds  of  soil  for  each  acre  to  be  planted,  from  an  old  field 
in  which  vetch  has  been  successfully  grown.  Spread  the  soil  evenly 
over  the  surface,  preferably  on  a  cloudy  day  and  have  someone  follow 
with  the  harrow  immediately  as  the  legume  bacteria  are  destroyed 
by  exposure  to  bright  sunshine.  For  various  reasons  this  method 
cannot  always  be  carried  out.     Reluctance  on  the  part  of  the  farmer 


to  have  his  fields  disturbed,  the  labor  of  hauling  and  the  replacing 
of  the  soil  taken  away  are  the  chief  hindrances.  Where  vetch  is  to 
be  grown  extensively  it  is  advisable  to  sow  a  small  area  first  on  good 
well-manured  land,  treating  the  seed  with  one  or  another  of  the  com- 
mercial cultures  now  on  the  market  and  using  the  soil  from  this  area 
for  larger  plantings. 

The  rate  of  seeding  varies  considerably.  Where  there  is  apt  to 
be  danger  from  winter  killing,  heavy  seeding  is  desirable.  One  hun- 
dred and  twenty  pounds  per  acre  under  poor  conditions  of  soil  and 
climate  to  as  low  as  sixty  pounds  per  acre  under  favorable  conditions 
are  necessary.  The  same  holds  true  when  sown  with  oats,  a  heavy 
seeding  being  ninety  pounds  of  vetch  and  seventy  pounds  of  oats.  As 
low  as  forty  pounds  of  vetch  and  ten  pounds  of  oats  have  produced 
good  crops.  The  present  price  of  common  vetch  seed  is  about  five 
cents  per  pound.  Seed  one  year  old  will  probably  germinate  better 
than  fresh  seed  and  little  difference  is  noted  up  to  three  years,  when 
it  rapidly  deteriorates.  In  many  coast  sections  vetch  that  has  proved 
a  failure  the  first  year  has  produced  large  yields  the  second  year. 
Thousands  of  acres  in  California  now  producing  a  scanty  weedy 
pasture  or  a  poor  crop  of  oats  could  be  sown  to  vetch  or  vetch  and 
oats,  with  the  result  that  there  would  be  more  and  better  feed  for 
stock  and  the  soil  greatty  benefited.  Dairy  farmers  not  growing 
alfalfa  should  utilize  their  farm  manure  for  growing  large  crops  of 
vetch. 

The  seed  may  be  drilled  or  broadcasted  in  a  similar  manner  to 
that  described  for  field  peas.  The  crop  may  be  used  as  pasture,  cut 
and  fed  green  daily,  put  into  the  silo,  or  made  into  hay.  Stock  eat 
vetch  with  relish.  Vetch  should  be  pastured  only  when  the  land  is 
dry,  as  otherwise  much  of  the  feed  is  destroyed  by  trampling  and  the 
soil  unduly  packed.  As  in  the  case  of  peas,  the  vines  should  be  cut 
when  the  first  blossoms  have  formed  pods  and  the  new  growth  still 
well  in  bloom.  An  ordinary  mower  may  be  used,  with  two  men  fol- 
lowing the  mower  to  fork  it  out  of  the  way  of  the  next  swath.  It  is 
more  satisfactory,  however,  to  use  a  swather  attachment  which  takes 
the  place  of  the  men.  The  hay  should  remain  for  at  least  a  day 
before  being  bunched  and  shocked,  but  care  must  be  taken  that  the 
leaves  do  not  get  too  dry.  From  two  to  four  tons  of  hay  may  be 
expected.  A  fair  pasturage  is  produced  at  the  base  of  the  stems  after 
soiling.  By  sowing  at  different  dates,  from  October  to  February,  a 
succession  of  green  feed  may  be  secured.  Because  of  the  palatability 
of  the  vetch  hay  and  its  high  protein  content,  averaging  15  per  cent, 


it  is  highly  prized  as  a  dairy  feed.      Steers  being  fed  vetch  may  be 
expected  to  gain  from  two  to  three  pounds  daily. 

SAND    OR    HAIRY   VETCH 

The  hairy  vetch  is  more  drouth-  and  cold-resistant  than  the 
common  vetch  and  may  be  sown  in  early  fall  in  cold  regions  where 
irrigation  is  practiced.  The  young  plants  should  be  well  established 
before  winter  sets  in  or  they  will  winter-kill  badly.  On  well-prepared 
ground  where  the  moisture  has  been  conserved  it  may  be  sown  in 
the  spring.  Because  of  its  drouth-resistant  qualities  it  is  better 
adapted  to  poor  gravelly  or  sandy  soils  than  the  common  vetch.  It 
is  much  more  tolerant  of  heat  than  the  common  vetch  and  makes  its 
most  rapid  growth  during  warm  spring  weather. 

The  methods  of  seeding  prescribed  for  common  vetch  may  also 
be  applied  to  the  hairy  vetch.  As  the  seed  is  about  one-half  the  size 
of  the  common  vetch,  much  less  is  required  per  acre,  twenty  to  thirty 
pounds  being  sufficient.  The  forage  is  relished  by  all  classes  of  stock. 
The  leafage  remains  green  during  the  coldest  weather  of  Lassen  and 
Modoc  counties  and  we  have  grown  it  in  Nevada,  where  the  ther- 
mometer reached  ten  degrees  below  zero  and  yet  only  the  tender  tips 
of  the  vines  were  frozen.  One  drawback  is  the  cost  of  the  seed,  being 
usually  three  or  more  times  that  of  the  common  vetch.  As  most  of 
the  seed  came  from  Europe  it  is  difficult  to  secure  it  in  this  country 
now  at  a  reasonable  price.  Seed  could,  however,  readily  be  grown 
in  California  and  would  be  a  profitable  crop  at  the  present  time. 

HORSE    BEANS 

The  horse-bean  plant  is  a  tall  coarse  erect-stemmed  vetch.  The 
large-seeded  flat  varieties  are  preferred  for  human  food  and  the 
smaller,  more  oval-seeded  varieties  for  stock.  The  seed  may  be  sown 
broadcast,  alone,  or  with  peas  or  vetch,  or  drilled  in  rows  eight  to 
fourteen  inches  apart.  About  four  bushels  of  seed  per  acre  are 
required.  Fall  planting  is  desirable  as  the  plants  dislike  hot  weather 
and  under  such  conditions  readily  succumb  to  aphis  or  turn  black. 
The  best  method  of  utilizing  the  leafage  is  by  soiling,  cutting  the 
plants  when  in  full  bloom.  If  left  for  seed  it  should  be  cut  when 
the  lower  pods  turn  black  and  put  into  shocks  for  about  two  weeks 
before  threshing.  Horses  are  very  fond  of  the  beans  which  are 
especially  valuable  to  mix  with  oats  in  the  feed  ration  where  hard 
work  is  required. 

RAPE 

There  are  a  number  of  kinds  of  plants  known  as  rape.  One  called 
summer  rape  or  colza  is  grown  chiefly  for  the  oil  which  is  extracted 


6 

by  pressure  from  the  seed,  and  the  residuum,  the  rape-seed  cake  of 
commerce,  used  as  concentrates.  Another  kind  is  called  winter  rape 
or  cole  seed  and  produces  large  leaves  which  make  succulent  forage. 
One  of  the  best  forage  varieties  is  the  Dwarf  Essex  which  is  well 
adapted  to  cool  moist  climates  and  loamy  soils,  rich  in  humus,  although 
it  will  grow  in  any  ordinary  cultivated  soils  that  are  well  drained. 
Where  the  winters  are  severe  it  must  be  sown  in  the  spring,  but  on 
the  coast  and  in  the  interior  valleys  winter  sowing  is  more  satis- 
factory. It  will  withstand  about  six  degrees  of  frost  without  injury 
when  established,  but  the  young  growth  is  more  tender.  Even  if  the 
tops  are  frozen  the  roots  survive  and  send  up  new  shoots  and  pro- 
duce a  crop.  The  land  should  be  plowed  deep  and  a  thorough  seed 
bed  prepared.  As  the  yield  depends  upon  the  fertility  of  the  soil, 
the  application  of  from  ten  to  twenty  tons  of  decomposed  farm 
manure  will  bring  good  returns.  The  manure  is  spread  evenly  over 
the  surface,  disked  into  the  surface  soil  thoroughly  and  then  plowed 
under.  Another  method  where  the  crop  is  to  be  grown  in  rows  is 
to  use  a  double  mold-board  plow  and  ridge  up  the  land  twenty-four 
inches  apart.  The  manure  is  then  placed  in  the  bottom  of  the  fur- 
rows, the  ridges  split  and  new  ridges  formed  directly  over  the  manure. 
Where  the  land  has  been  cropped  to  beans,  sorghums,  potatoes,  or 
similar  crop  and  is  already  in  fair  tilth,  the  land  could  be  ridged 
without  a  preliminary  plowing.  The  ridge  method  will  be  a  saving 
in  manure  and  provide  ample  drainage.  If  the  soils  are  light  and 
apt  to  dry  out  it  would  be  best  not  to  ridge  the  land. 

Three  methods  of  seeding  may  be  used,  namely,"  cultivated  rows, 
in  close  drills,  or  broadcasted.  The  first  requires  two  pounds  of  good 
seed  per  acre  with  the  rows  twenty-four  inches  apart,  the  second  four 
pounds  and  the  third,  five  pounds.  A  grain  drill  may  be  used.  The 
seed  should  not  be  covered  more  than  one-half  inch.  Where  con- 
servation of  moisture  is  necessary  cultivated  rows  are  to  be  preferred. 

Eape  is  commonly  utilized  by  pasturing  to  sheep  and  hogs.  Cattle 
are  apt  to  be  wasteful  as  they  destroy  much  of  it  by  trampling, 
especially  when  broadcasted  or  close-drilled.  It  may  also  be  used  as 
a  soiling  crop  and  occasionally  it  has  been  put  in  the  silo  with  success. 
Like  a  number  of  other  forage  plants  care  should  be  taken  to  avoid 
bloating.  In  order  to  prevent  excessive  purging  salt  should  be  sup- 
plied freely.  Animals  will  do  better  on  rape  if  they  have  access  to 
some  dry  feed  as  straw,  or  stubble  pasture.  When  used  as  a  soiling 
crop  for  milch  cows  it  should  be  fed  just  after  milking,  as  it  will 
otherwise  taint  the  milk.  The  average  yield  of  rape  is  about  ten  tons 
of  green  forage  per  acre.      Under  very  favorable  conditions,  thirty 


tons  have  been  obtained.  It  is  ready  to  pasture  from  two  to  three 
months  after  seeding.  An  acre  of  rape  will  carry  approximately 
fifteen  sheep  or  hogs  for  one  month.  In  regard  to  its  feeding  value 
it  contains  about  87  per  cent  water,  2  per  cent  ash,  8  per  cent  diges- 
tible carbohydrates  and  fat  (fat  formers)  and  3  per  cent  digestible 
protein  (flesh  formers). 

KALE 

Kale  is  similar  to  rape  in  its  requirements.  The  variety  Thousand 
Headed  is  best  for  forage.  It  grows  to  a  height  of  from  three  to 
five  feet  and  produces  heavy  and  continuous  succulent  feed.  With 
irrigation  it  may  be  planted  in  early  fall  and  will  produce  abundant 
feed  during  the  winter  and  following  summer.  Without  irrigation 
the  land  should  be  fallowed  to  conserve  the  moisture  and  the  seed 
planted  with  the  first  rains,  in  hills  about  three  feet  apart  each  way. 
A  few  seeds  are  put  in  each  hill  and  the  young  plants  thinned  out 
when  they  appear  above  ground.  By  this  method  cross-  and  length- 
wise cultivation  is  possible  and  the  moisture  conserved  throughout 
the  summer. 

Cattle  will  eat  the  leaves  and  sheep  the  leaves  and  stalks  so  that 
there  is  no  waste.  So  far  as  known  it  is  the  only  forage  plant  that 
can  be  utilized  for  greed  feed  both  summer  and  winter  without  irri- 
gation in  California.      For  this  reason  it  is  prized  by  poultrymen. 

GIANT    MARROW   CABBAGE 

Giant  marrow  cabbage  comes  from  the  Island  of  Jersey  and  is 
said  to  be  a  hybrid  secured  by  crossing  kohl-rabi,  thousand-headed 
kale  and  the  Jersey  chou.  It  is  similar  to  kale  except  that  the  stems 
become  very  tall,  thick  and  fleshy.  The  crop  has  given  excellent 
results  in  Western  Washington  and  may  do  well  in  the  north  coastal 
region  of  this  state. 

MUSTARD 

White  mustard  may  be  sown  broadcast  in  January  or  February 
on  the  poorer  soils  and  furnish  fair  sheep  feed  in  April  or  May.  It 
may  be  grown  in  the  interior  valleys  or  coastal  region  and  with  or 
without  irrigation. 

ROOT  CROPS 

Koots  are  well  adapted  to  the  humid  belt  along  the  Pacific  Coast 
without  irrigation.  They  require  clean  land  of  good  deep  tilth.  The 
land  may  be  prepared  in  a  similar  manner  to  that  described  for  rape. 
Seaweed  is  abundant  on  the  coast  and  directly  adjacent  to  many 
farms  on  which  roots  could  be  grown  successfully.      Where   farm 


8 

manure  is  not  available  seaweed  may  be  plowed  under  by  placing  it 
in  the  furrows  as  the  plow  makes  its  rounds.  Carrots  and  parsnips 
prefer  the  lighter  soils,  and  mangels,  turnips,  swedes  and  rutabagas, 
the  heavier  soils. 

About  four  pounds  of  seed  per  acre  are  required  except  mangels, 
of  which  about  twelve  pounds  are  required.  Sow  in  rows  so  as  to 
cultivate  and  thin  out  to  from  six  to  two  feet  according  to  size  of  roots. 

Mangels  are  related  to  the  sugar  beet  and  should  be  selected  for 
growth  in  the  south  and  interior  valleys  as  they  are  more  tolerant 
of  heat. 

From  ten  to  twenty-five  tons  per  acre  or  more  may  be  expected 
according  to  the  fertility  of  the  land  and  the  kind  of  crop  grown. 
To  be  sure  root  crops  are  mostly  water,  so  that  if  their  chemical 
composition  alone  is  to  be  considered  little  could  be  expected.  For 
centuries,  however,  it  has  been  known  that  the  adding  of  a  succulent 
easily  digestible  food  to  the  ration  is  both  healthful  and  economical. 

The  dry  matter  of  all  root  crops  is  of  the  same  general  feed  value, 
but  different  kinds  of  root  crops  differ  greatly  in  the  amounts  of 
dry  matter  and  water  that  they  contain.  A  pound  of  dry  matter 
in  mangels  and  other  root  crops  is  equivalent  to  about  one  pound  of 
grain  and  mangels  can  be  substituted  for  about  one-half  of  the  neces- 
sary grain  ration  in  the  proportion  of  about  twelve  to  fifteen  pounds 
of  mangels  per  pound  of  grain.  Root  crops  may  be  fed  to  milch  cows, 
sheep  or  steers  with  good  results.  They  will  prove  a  valuable  factor 
in  increasing  the  flow  of  milk  where  cows  have  access  only  to  dry 
hay  or  dry  pasture.  A  steer  being  fattened  on  dry  feed  will  make 
better  use  of  the  ration  when  some  roots  are  included.  Their  value 
for  fattening  lambs  and  maintaining  a  supply  of  milk  in  breeding- 
ewes  is  well  known. 

SWEET   CLOVER 

Sweet  clover  has  been  grown  to  a  considerable  extent  in  the 
eastern  and  middle  western  states  for  a  number  of  years.  Only 
recently,  however,  has  its  merits  as  a  forage  crop  been  recognized  in 
California.  Two  factors  have  militated  against  it,  namely,  its  bitter 
taste  which  makes  stock  dislike  it  until  accustomed  to  it,  and  the 
uncertainty  of  securing  a  stand. 

There  have  been  many  failures  with  sweet  clover,  mostly  due  to 
one  of  the  following  causes : 

1.  Lack  of  lime  in  the  soil. 

2.  Lack  of  inoculation. 

3.  The  loose  character  of  the  seed  bed. 


9 

The  physical  texture  of  the  soil  seems  to  be  of  little  consequence 
as  bountiful  crops  have  been  grown  on  very  light  sandy  soils  and  on 
stiff  adobe  lands.  Its  tolerance  for  white  alkali  is  well  marked. 
When  well  established  the  roots  withstand  extremes  of  both  heat  and 
cold.  Young  seedlings  are  injured  if  a  period  of  dry  cold  weather 
follows  soon  after  germination,  although  a  sufficient  number  of  plants 
will  usually  survive  to  produce  a  good  stand. 

Sweet  clover  is  extremely  drouth-resistant  on  good  deep  well- 
prepared  lands,  maintaining  bright  green  foliage  to  a  height  of  several 
feet  throughout  the  hottest  months  of  the  year.  On  poor  shallow  soils 
the  growth  is  sometimes  sparse  and  many  of  the  leaves  turn  brown 
and  fall  off.  Gravelly  stream  beds  and  banks  seem  to  be  its  natural 
preference  and  we  find  it  taking  these  areas  without  any  intentional 
seeding  or  cultivation.  This  may  perhaps  account  for  the  fact  that 
it  does  not  require  good  drainage  on  cultivated  land.  Lands  too 
poorly  drained  for  the  successful  growing  of  alfalfa  can  be  profitably 
planted  to  sweet  clover. 

Fall  seeding  is  desirable  in  the  coast  and  valley  sections  and  early 
spring  seeding  in  the  northern  counties  and  in  the  mountains.  It  is 
best  to  wait  until  the  soil  is  thoroughly  saturated  and  the  winter  rainy 
season  established.  Too  early  sowing  may  result  in  the  germination 
of  the  seed  by  the  first  light  rains.  This  followed  by  a  protracted  dry 
period  may  result  in  the  loss  of  many  seedlings  and  a  subsequent 
poor  stand. 

The  rate  of  seeding  is  from  ten  to  twenty-five  pounds  per  acre. 
Ten  pounds  per  acre  of  good,  clean,  well-scarified,  hulled  seed  are  suf- 
ficient on  a  firm  seed  bed.  Where  unhulled  seed  is  to  be  sown  fifteen 
pounds  per  acre  is  desirable.  Larger  amounts  of  seed  are  necessary 
according  to  the  quality  of  the  seed  and  the  condition  of  the  seed 
bed.  Shallow  seeding,  about  one  inch,  is  generally  more  successful 
than  deep  plantings.  The  roots  grow  rapidly  during  the  cool  winter 
season  descending  into  the  soil  with  a  strong  tap  root  which  soon 
becomes  more  or  less  branched.  The  power  of  the  roots  to  force  their 
way  into  hard  stiff  soils  is  very  great  and  herein  lies  one  of  its 
most  beneficial  features  when  grown  on  such  soils.  The  roots  are 
quite  fleshy  and  when  they  decay  at  the  end  of  the  second  season 
they  leave  humus  channels  which  open  up  the  soil  and  deposit  large 
quantities  of  nitrogen. 

The  weight  of  the  green  roots  from  an  acre  of  good  sweet  clover 
is  estimated  at  twenty  tons,  so  that  even  if  the  crop  is  cut  for  hay, 
large  quantities  of  humus  and  nitrogen  remain  in  the  soil.  The 
weight  of  the  tops  may  be  as  high  as  thirty  tons  of  green  matter  per 


10 

acre.  If  this  is  plowed  under  as  a  green-manure  crop  rapid  improve- 
ment in  the  texture  and  the  humus  content  of  the  soil  will  take  place. 

The  forage  value  of  sweet  clover  is  nearly  equal  to  that  of  alfalfa. 
Much  depends,  however,  on  the  character  of  the  growth.  If  the  plants 
have  an  abundance  of  space  in  which  to  grow  the  stems  become  too 
large  and  woody  and  are  rejected  by  stock.  For  hay  and  green 
manure  a  thick  stand  of  slender  stemmed  plants  is  the  ideal. 

The  crop  may  be  utilized  as  hay,  pasture  or  soiling.  Care  should 
be  taken  not  to  set  the  mower  too  low  as  the  buds  for  succeeding 
growths  and  for  the  second  year  are  located  on  the  lower  branches. 
Too  close  pasturing  by  sheep  may  bring  about  a  similar  result, 
although  hogs  do  little  damage  in  this  respect. 

In  order  to  get  the  best  results  from  pasturing,  the  plants  should 
be  kept  down  below  one  foot  in  height.  This  will  result  in  a  suc- 
cession of  new  tender  palatable  shoots  being  produced.  Stock  seldom 
bloat  on  sweet  clover. 

Mr.  C.  S.  Frazier,  in  the  Nebraska  Farmer,  gives  in  a  concise 
way  an  experience  which  has  been  duplicated  hundreds  of  times  by 
others : 

Last  March  the  clover  appeared,  and  by  the  second  week  of  April  the  plants 
were  eight  inches  tall  with  a  dark-green  color.  Eight  at  this  time  I  had  occasion 
to  turn  a  herd  of  cattle  onto  that  part  of  the  farm  to  feed  off  a  field  of  corn- 
stalks. This  sweet  clover  field  was  near  the  gate  where  the  stock  were  turned 
into  the  field.  To  my  surprise  they  never  stopped  to  take  a  smell  of  the  sweet 
clover  at  first.  However,  in  a  day  or  two  I  noticed  three  of  the  animals  feeding 
on  the  clover,  and  in  less  than  a  week  the  whole  herd  was  doing  the  same  thing. 

From  that  time  on  they  stayed  right  on  the  clover  until  they  had  it  eaten 
off  close  to  the  ground.  I  was  somewhat  concerned  as  to  the  safety  of  the 
clover  and  thereafter  denied  the  cattle  the  right  of  grazing  on  that  field.  After 
the  cattle  were  taken  off,  the  sweet  clover  came  on  and  made  a  heavy  crop  of 
seed.  At  no  time  during  the  past  dry,  hot  season  did  it  show  any  signs  of 
being  affected  by  the  unfavorable  weather. 

From  one  to  two  or  more  cuttings  of  hay  may  be  obtained  each 
season.  Where  the  growing  season  is  a  long  one  and  irrigation  pos- 
sible, much  larger  yields  may  be  obtained.  A  ton  and  a  half  to  the 
acre  per  cutting  may  be  expected. 

On  poor  lands  too  much  must  not  be  expected  of  it  the  first  season. 
Sweet  clover  will  do  much  to  bring  back  to  life  the  unproductive 
wheat  lands  in  California. 

BUR-CLOVER 

Bur-clover  is  well  adapted  to  the  coast  and  where  not  already 
abundant  may  be  scattered  on  hill  and  pasture  land  in  the  autumn 


11 

and  scratched  in  lightly  with  a  harrow  or  disk.  It  grows  as  a  volun- 
teer crop  in  grain  fields,  and  makes  a  most  valuable  pasture  for 
cattle,  sheep  and  hogs. 

GRASSES 

The  grasses  that  will  respond  if  the  seed  is  sown  in  the  rainy  season 
are:  Italian  rye-grass,  English  rye-grass,  orchard  grass,  crested  dog's- 
tail  grass,  tall  meadow  oat-grass,  red  top  and  velvet  grass. 

In  order  to  get  the  best  returns  a  clean,  well-prepared,  firm  seed 
bed  should  be  made.  Orchard  grass  prefers  the  shade,  but  the  others 
will  do  well  both  in  the  open  and  in  the  shade.  Tall  meadow  oat-grass 
is  extremely  drouth-resistant  and  will  grow  on  poor  soils,  but  the 
leafage  at  the  base  is  meager.  Red  top  does  well  in  the  seepage  areas 
on  the  hillsides  in  the  neighborhood  of  springs.  Velvet  grass  delights 
in  fog.  Orchard  grass,  rye  grasses,  crested  dog  's-tail  and  velvet  grass 
are  especially  adapted  to  sowing  in  the  ashes  of  burnt-over  redwood 
lands  without  treatment  of  the  soil.  The  amount  of  seed  to  sow  is 
about  thirty  pounds  per  acre  for  all  except  velvet  grass,  which  takes 
ten,  it  being  extremely  light,  weighing  only  seven  pounds  to  the  bushel. 

RYE 

The  cereal  rye  may  be  sown  in  the  fall  on  cultivated  land  and  will 
provide  good  sheep  and  hog  pasture  by  mid-winter. 

BARLEY 

Barley  may  be  disked  into  irrigated  alfalfa  fields  in  the  extreme 
southern  counties  and  excellent  sheep  and  hog  pasturage  provided 
by  Christmas.  The  alfalfa  does  not  seem  to  be  injured  in  any  way 
by  this  method  of  treatment. 

The  use  of  one  or  another  of  the  above  forage  plants  on  the 
farm,  together  with  a  proper  division  of  the  range  so  as  to  permit 
each  part  to  get  a  period  of  rest,  will  enable  us  to  utilize  California's 
winter  rains  and  generally  mild  winter  climate  for  an  increased 
production  of  feed  for  stock. 


STATION  PUBLICATIONS   AVAILABLE   FOE   FREE   DISTRIBUTION 


REPORTS 

1897.      Resistant  Vines,   their  Selection,   Adaptation,   and  Grafting.      Appendix  to  Viticultural 
Report  for  1896. 

1902.  Report  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment   Station  for   1898-1901. 

1903.  Report  of  the  Agricultural   Experiment   Station  for   1901-03. 

1904.  Twenty-second  Report  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment   Station  for    1903-04. 

1914.  Report  of  the  College  of  Agriculture  and  the  Agricultural   Experiment   Station,   July, 

1913-June,    1914. 

1915.  Report  of  the  College  of  Agriculture  and  the  Agricultural   Experiment   Station,    July. 

1914-June,    1915. 

1916.  Report  of  the  College  of  Agriculture   and  the  Agricultural   Experiment   Station,   July, 

1915-June,    1916. 

1917.  Report  of  the   College  of  Agriculture  and   the   Agricultural   Experiment   Station,   July, 

1916-June,  1917. 

BULLETINS 


No. 

230. 
241. 
242. 
246. 
248. 

249. 
250. 
251. 


252. 
253. 

255. 
257. 
261. 

262. 

263. 
264. 
265. 
266. 

267. 
268. 


No. 
113. 
114. 
115. 
121. 

124. 
126. 
127. 
128. 
129. 
131. 
133. 
134. 
135. 
136. 
137. 
138. 
139. 


140. 

141. 

142. 

143. 

144. 
145. 

147. 
148. 
150. 
151. 


Enological  Investigations. 

Vine  Pruning  in  California,  Part  I. 

Humus  in  California  Soils. 

Vine  Pruning  in  California,  Part  II. 

The  Economic  Value  of  Pacific  Coast 

Kelps.  .  „  ,•* 

Stock-Poisoning  Plants  of  California. 
The  Loquat. 
Utilization  of  the  Nitrogen  and  Organic 

Matter   in    Septic    and    Imhoff   Tank 

Sludges. 
Deterioration  of  Lumber. 
Irrigation   and   Soil   Conditions   in  the 

Sierra  Nevada  Foothills,  California. 
The  Citricola    Scale. 
New  Dosage  Tables. 
Melaxuma    of    the    Walnut,     "Juglans 

Citrus  Diseases  of  Florida  and  Cuba 
Compared  with  Those  of  California. 

Size  Grade  for  Ripe  Olives. 

The  Calibration  of  the  Leakage  Meter. 

Cotton  Rot  of  Lemons  in  California. 

A  Spotting  of  Citrus  Fruits  Due  to  the 
Action  of  Oil  Liberated  from  the  Rmd. 

Experiments  with  Stocks  for  Citrus. 

Growing  and  Grafting  Olive  Seedlings. 


No. 

270.  A  Comparison  of  Annual  Cropping,  Bi- 

ennial Cropping,  and  Green  Manures 
on  the  Yield  of  Wheat. 

271.  Feeding  Dairy  Calves  in  California. 

272.  Commercial  Fertilizers. 

273.  Preliminary  Report  on  Kearney  Vine- 

yard Experimental  Drain. 

274.  The  Common  Honey  Bee  as  an  Agent 

in   Prune   Pollination. 

275.  The  Cultivation  of  Belladonna  in  Cali- 

fornia. 

276.  The  Pomegranate. 

277.  Sudan  Grass. 

278.  Grain  Sorghums. 

279.  Irrigation  of  Rice  in  California. 

280.  Irrigation  of  Alfalfa  in  the  Sacramento 

Valley. 

281.  Control  of  the  Pocket  Gophers  in  Cali- 

fornia. 

282.  Trials  with  California  Silage  Crops  for 

Dairy  Cows. 

283.  The  Olive  Insects  of  California. 

284.  Irrigation  of  Alfalfa  in  Imperial  Valley. 

285.  The  Milch  Goat  in  California. 

286.  Commercial  Fertilizers. 

287.  Vinegar  from   Waste   Fruits. 


CIRCULARS 


Correspondence  Courses  in  Agriculture. 

Increasing  the  Duty  of  Water. 

Grafting  Vinifera  Vineyards. 

Some  Things  the  Prospective  Settler 
Should  Know. 

Alfalfa   Silage  for  Fattening  Steers. 

Spraying  for  the  Grape  Leaf  Hopper. 

House  Fumigation. 

Insecticide  Formulas. 

The  Control  of  Citrus  Insects. 

Spraying  for  Control  of  Walnut  Aphis. 

County  Farm  Adviser. 

Control  of  Raisin   Insects. 

Official  Tests  of  Dairy  Cows. 

Melilotus  Indica. 

Wood  Decav  in  Orchard  Trees 

The  Silo  in  California  Agriculture. 

The  Generation  of  Hvdrocyanic  Acid 
Gas  in  Fumigation  by  Portable  Ma- 
chines. •  , 

The  Practical  Application  of  Improved 
Methods  of  Fermentation  in  Califor- 
nia Wineries  during  1913  and  1914. 

Standard  Insecticides  and  Fungicides 
versus  Secret  Preparations. 

Practical  and  Inexpensive  Poultry  Ap- 
pliances. .  .  , 

Cnnt-rol  of  Grasshoppers  in  Imperial 
Valley. 

Oidium  or  Powderv  Mildew  of  the  Vine. 

Sue-sestions  to  Poultrymen  concerning 
Chicken  Pox. 

Tomato  Growing  in  California. 

"Lungworms." 

Round  Worms  in  Poultry. 

Feeding  and  Management  of  Hogs. 


No. 

152.  Some  Observations  on  the  Bulk  Hand- 

ling of  Grain  in  California. 

153.  Announcement  of  the  California  State 

Dairy  Cow  Competition,   1916-18. 

154.  Irrigation   Practice  in  Growing   Small 

Fruits  in  California. 

155.  Bovine  Tuberculosis. 

156.  How  to  Operate  an  Incubator. 

157.  Control  of  the  Pear  Scab. 

158.  Home  and  Farm  Canning. 

160.  Lettuce    Growing   in    California. 

161.  Potatoes  in   California. 

162.  White    Diarrhoea    and    Coccidiosis    of 

Chicks. 

164.  Small  Fruit  Culture  in  California. 

165.  Fundamentals    of    Sugar    Beet    under 

California  Conditions. 

166.  The  County  Farm  Bureau. 

167.  Feeding  Stuffs  of  Minor  Importance. 

168.  Spraying  for  the  Control  of  Wild  Morii- 

ing-Glbry  within  the  Fog  Belt. 

169.  1918  Grain  Crop. 

170.  Fertilizing  California  Soils  for  the  1918 

Crop. 

171.  The  Fertilization  of  Citrus. 

172.  Wheat  Culture. 

173.  The    Construction    of    the    Wood-Hoop 

Silo. 

174.  Farm  Drainage  Methods. 

175.  Progress  Report  on  the  Marketing  and 

Distribution    of    Milk. 

176.  Hog      Cholera      Prevention      and     the 

Serum    Treatment. 

177.  Grain    Sorehum    Seed. 

178.  The   Packing  of  Apples  in  California. 


